Buncombe County, NC Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Buncombe County, NC, also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance, set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Key Facts
- Allowed hours
- 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., burn days only
- Burnable material
- Own leaves, brush, yard trimmings
- Banned material
- Trash, plastic, lumber, tires
- Pile setback
- 500 ft from occupied structure
- Air quality
- No burning on Code Orange days
Summary
Residents may burn leaves, brush, and yard trimmings from their own property on approved burn days between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., with nothing added after 6 p.m. Burning trash, plastics, and building materials is banned, and open burning is prohibited where yard-waste pickup exists.
It shall be unlawful for any person to start or cause to be started any fire or ignite any material in any woodland under the protection of the Department or within 500 feet of any such woodland during the hours starting at midnight and ending at 4:00 P.M. without first obtaining a permit from the Department. Permits may be obtained from forest rangers or other agents authorized by the forest ranger to issue such permits in the county in which the fire is to be started.
Full Breakdown
The Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency (WNCRAQA Code Chapter 4, Section 1900) regulates open burning. Only yard vegetation from your own property may be burned, on days that are not forecast Code Orange or above and not under a Forest Service or Fire Marshal burn ban. Burning household trash, building materials, tires, plastic, cardboard, and processed wood is prohibited. Land-clearing brush piles must sit at least 500 feet from the nearest occupied structure. If you burn within 500 feet of forestland between midnight and 4 p.m., a NC Forest Service permit is required (NCGS 106-943). Open burning is not allowed inside Asheville city limits or towns that provide yard-waste pickup.
Violations & Fines
Illegal open burning is enforced by the Air Quality Agency and Fire Marshal; violators may face citations and civil penalties. Call 828-250-6767 to check burn-day status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn my household trash outdoors?
Do I need a permit to burn leaves?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Buncombe County
How Buncombe County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Buncombe County to another location·View the North Carolina fire regulations overview
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